Glass Wings Blog: September 2021
Senate’s vote to ban slave-made imports shows the weakness of Australia’s Modern Slavery Act
Thu, 2 Sep 2021 05:55:21 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/senates-vote-to-ban-slave-made-imports-shows-the-weakness-of-australias-modern-slavery-act-166647>
"When the Australian government introduced its Modern Slavery Bill to
parliament in 2018, it heralded it as the start of a “race to the top”.
(More...)
Australia has failed greater gliders: since they were listed as ‘vulnerable’ we’ve destroyed more of their habitat
Thu, 2 Sep 2021 05:56:05 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/australia-has-failed-greater-gliders-since-they-were-listed-as-vulnerable-weve-destroyed-more-of-their-habitat-164872>
"In just five years, greater gliders — fluffy-eared, tree-dwelling marsupials —
could go from vulnerable to endangered, because Australia’s environmental laws
have failed to protect them and other threatened native species.
(More...)
Tears as landholder gives Flinders Ranges land to traditional owners
Thu, 2 Sep 2021 05:59:38 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Excel autocorrect errors still plague genetic research, raising concerns over scientific rigour
Thu, 2 Sep 2021 06:00:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/excel-autocorrect-errors-still-plague-genetic-research-raising-concerns-over-scientific-rigour-166554>
"Autocorrection, or predictive text, is a common feature of many modern tech
tools, from internet searches to messaging apps and word processors.
Autocorrection can be a blessing, but when the algorithm makes mistakes it can
(More...)
Australian public fed nonsense as country heads to “irreversible” decision.
Fri, 3 Sep 2021 06:47:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/@matt_11659/australian-public-fed-nonsense-as-country-heads-to-irreversible-decision-99350b80125c>
"The “Doherty Report” is being sold as an economic & health model “created by
experts” to move Australia from suppression to opening up and “living with
Covid”.
(More...)
Countries that are more compassionate towards refugees have lower levels of violence – new research
Fri, 3 Sep 2021 06:48:31 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/countries-that-are-more-compassionate-towards-refugees-have-lower-levels-of-violence-new-research-153141>
"As the world braces itself for an influx of people fleeing Afghanistan in the
wake of the Taliban coup, it is a timely opportunity to look at the real effect
of immigrants and refugees on a country. So often these people are demonised
(More...)
Book extract: ‘Broken’ — requiem for the family court
Fri, 3 Sep 2021 06:49:30 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/book-extract-broken-requiem-for-the-family-court-166406>
Successive governments right up to the present day caved to backlash terrorism,
seeking a return to the status quo that benefits men:
(More...)
PSA: Universal Music Group Has Copyrighted The Moon. That is All.
Fri, 3 Sep 2021 06:50:23 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210827/10313847445/psa-universal-music-group-has-copyrighted-moon-that-is-all.shtml>
"We have seen and covered a great many ridiculous copyright issues here at
Techdirt. It is, after all, sort of our thing. Still, some attempts at
enforcing copyrights are so ludicrous that they take your breath away. Now,
(More...)
Online Trolls Actually Just Assholes All the Time, Study Finds
Sat, 4 Sep 2021 06:47:12 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://gizmodo.com/online-trolls-actually-just-assholes-all-the-time-stud-1847575210>
"The internet doesn’t turn people into assholes so much as it acts as a massive
megaphone for existing ones, according to work by researchers at Aarhus
University.
(More...)
In case you're wondering what it's like to weigh a Penguin.
Sat, 4 Sep 2021 06:48:12 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Arthur C. Clarke (Sci-Fi Writer) predicting ebooks, remote working, etc back in 1976
Sat, 4 Sep 2021 06:49:10 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://gadgeteer.co.za/arthur-c-clarke-sci-fi-writer-predicting-ebooks-remote-working-etc-back-1976>
"In 1976, AT&T and MIT held a conference on futurism and technology, attended
by scientists, theorists, academics and futurists. This interview with Clarke
during this conference is remarkably prescient—especially about the evolution
(More...)
The Great American Science Heist
Sat, 4 Sep 2021 06:50:34 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theintercept.com/2021/08/29/bayh-dole-act-public-science-patents/>
"Beginning in the early 1970s, the enemies of government patent ownership
embraced a trendy new phrase in the nation’s political and economic lexicons:
“global competitiveness.” To compete against Europe and Asia, the argument
(More...)
Barbie Career of the Year as a Window on Centrist Feminism
Sun, 5 Sep 2021 06:54:04 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.exurbe.com/barbie-career-of-the-year-as-a-window-on-centrist-feminism/>
"This topic is very far from my usual bailiwick but important in its odd way,
expanding on a Twitter thread from 2020. I am not, nor have I never been, a
Barbie collector, but I find the Career of the Year series fascinating as a
(More...)
Collapse, Renewal and the Rope of History
Sun, 5 Sep 2021 06:55:40 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://futurecrunch.com/collapse-renewal/
"In the last month, over a billion COVID-19 vaccines have been administered
around the world, more than 30 million a day. Almost a third of humanity has
now been reached; by the end of this year we will have dosed half the people on
(More...)
If the economy's in recession, shouldn't stimulus payments be automatic?
Sun, 5 Sep 2021 06:56:32 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Most Information About Disinformation Is Misinformation
Sun, 5 Sep 2021 06:57:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210827/11343147446/most-information-about-disinformation-is-misinformation.shtml>
"Reporter Joseph Bernstein recently published a fantastic cover story in
Harpers all about "disinformation" and "fake news" but not in the way you
normally think about it. It's not like most such articles — often decrying
(More...)
1.6 Billion Disposable Masks Entered Our Oceans in 2020
Mon, 6 Sep 2021 05:28:47 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/1-6-billion-disposable-masks-entered-our-oceans-in-2020/>
"In Ocean Asia’s 2020 report, Masks on the Beach, researchers developed a
formula to provide reasonable estimates for the number of disposable masks
entering the environment.
(More...)
This bird’s stamina is remarkable: it flies non-stop for 5 days from Japan to Australia, but now its habitat is under threat
Mon, 6 Sep 2021 05:29:52 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/this-birds-stamina-is-remarkable-it-flies-non-stop-for-5-days-from-japan-to-australia-but-now-its-habitat-is-under-threat-165964>
"Imagine having to fly non-stop for five days over thousands of kilometres of
ocean for your survival. That’s what the Latham’s Snipe shorebird does twice a
year, for every year of its life.
(More...)
Robber barons and high-speed traders dominate Australia’s water market
Mon, 6 Sep 2021 05:31:02 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/robber-barons-and-high-speed-traders-dominate-australias-water-market-166422>
"At the beginning of the water trading experiment, little effort was put into
defining the goals of water trading, or how its success would be measured.
(More...)
The situation in Afghanistan is beyond horrifying: this is what you can do to help
Mon, 6 Sep 2021 05:34:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
Advice for Australians, but the same principles apply elsewhere:
<
https://theconversation.com/the-situation-in-afghanistan-is-beyond-horrifying-this-is-what-you-can-do-to-help-166816>
"The situation in Afghanistan is rapidly unfolding as a humanitarian crisis. We
(More...)
UN Sustainable Development Goals: How Companies Stack Up
Tue, 7 Sep 2021 06:11:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.visualcapitalist.com/sustainable-development-goals/
"Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing witnessed a breakthrough
year in 2020 with the most fund inflows on record.
(More...)
From 30 Million Cases to Zero
Tue, 7 Sep 2021 06:13:08 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/china-eliminates-malaria-history-tu-youyou/>
"At the end of June, the World Health Organization certified China as having
eliminated malaria. The announcement may have gotten a little drowned out by
the mass spectacles surrounding the Communist Party’s 100th birthday, but make
(More...)
Australia’s coastal waters are rich in Indigenous cultural heritage, but it remains hidden and under threat
Tue, 7 Sep 2021 06:14:04 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/australias-coastal-waters-are-rich-in-indigenous-cultural-heritage-but-it-remains-hidden-and-under-threat-166564>
"When people arrived in Australia more than 65,000 years ago, they landed on
shores that are now deep under water. The first footprints on this continent
took place on these now-submerged landscapes.
(More...)
Urgent Call for a Global Pact to protect 80% of the Amazon by 2025
Tue, 7 Sep 2021 06:15:09 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.pressenza.com/2021/09/urgent-call-for-a-global-pact-to-protect-80-of-the-amazon-by-2025/>
"We, the indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin, through our ancestral
knowledge and wisdom, have been protecting the Amazon for millennia. We have
been joined in this struggle by environmental and human rights organisations
(More...)
Goose has epic response to humans taking her injured boyfriend
Wed, 8 Sep 2021 06:05:31 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJhfVvdYrb4
Via
mudhooks@pluspora.com, who wrote "Worried Canada Goose visits her mate
during surgery."
(More...)
Preprint ban in grant applications deemed ‘plain ludicrous’
Wed, 8 Sep 2021 06:06:45 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-02318-8
"Australia’s major research funder has ruled more than 20 fellowship
applications ineligible because they mentioned preprints and other
non-peer-reviewed materials, sparking an outcry from scientists who say the
(More...)
Human progress is no excuse to destroy nature. A push to make ‘ecocide’ a global crime must recognise this fundamental truth
Wed, 8 Sep 2021 06:07:42 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/human-progress-is-no-excuse-to-destroy-nature-a-push-to-make-ecocide-a-global-crime-must-recognise-this-fundamental-truth-164594>
"Scientists recently confirmed the Amazon rainforest is now emitting more
carbon dioxide than it absorbs, due to uncontrolled burning and deforestation.
It brings the crucial ecosystem closer to a tipping point that would see it
(More...)
The ANZUS treaty does not make Australia safer. Rather, it fuels a fear of perpetual military threat
Wed, 8 Sep 2021 06:08:39 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/the-anzus-treaty-does-not-make-australia-safer-rather-it-fuels-a-fear-of-perpetual-military-threat-165670>
"In June 2020, the Australian federal government announced a new, A$270 billion
defence strategy. Part of this entailed spending $800 million on new AGM-158C
long-range anti-ship missiles from the United States.
(More...)
Light in Victoria’s lockdown: ‘We’ve turned Hurstbridge yellow’
Thu, 9 Sep 2021 06:41:33 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2021/sep/02/light-in-victorias-lockdown-weve-turned-hurstbridge-yellow>
"Hurstbridge’s Wattle festival was affected by Victoria’s lockdown for a second
year in a row, but the community has found a way to come together without
gathering physically. ‘This year, we’ve turned Hurstbridge yellow,’ says Carol
(More...)
In a time of COVID and climate change, social sciences are vital, but they’re on university chopping blocks
Thu, 9 Sep 2021 06:44:37 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/in-a-time-of-covid-and-climate-change-social-sciences-are-vital-but-theyre-on-university-chopping-blocks-166015>
"What are the three biggest challenges Australia faces in the next five to ten
years? What role will the social sciences play in resolving these challenges?
(More...)
How Spain is shutting down its coal industry to transition to renewables
Thu, 9 Sep 2021 06:46:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-02/the-just-transition-as-spain-says-goodbye-to-coal/100421216>
"Coal engineer José Manuel Pérez Rodriguez can only laugh when he recalls what
his university taught him about renewables.
(More...)
Honest Government Ad | Carbon Capture and Storage
Thu, 9 Sep 2021 06:47:36 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZgoFyuHC8
"The Australien Government has made an ad about Carbon Capture and Storage, and
it’s surprisingly honest and informative."
(More...)
Email company under fire over police data handover
Thu, 9 Sep 2021 10:07:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58476983
"Encrypted-email company ProtonMail has faced criticism after handing over user
details to the authorities.
(More...)
Wild cockatoos make their own cutlery sets
Fri, 10 Sep 2021 06:05:01 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.science.org/content/article/wild-cockatoos-make-their-own-cutlery-sets>
"Goffin’s cockatoos (
Cacatua goffiniana) are so smart they’ve been compared
to 3-year-old humans. But what 3-year-old has made their own cutlery set?
Scientists have observed wild cockatoos, members of the parrot family, crafting
(More...)
Regressive changes to Northern Territory water laws could undermine Indigenous rights
Fri, 10 Sep 2021 06:06:03 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/regressive-changes-to-northern-territory-water-laws-could-undermine-indigenous-rights-166561>
"Water management in the Northern Territory just keeps making headlines. The
recent decision to grant an unprecedentedly large groundwater licence is a case
in point.
(More...)
Desertification is turning the Earth barren – but a solution is still within reach
Fri, 10 Sep 2021 06:07:45 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/02/desertification-barren-solution-famine-agriculture>
"This summer’s record-setting heatwaves and dramatic fires in southern Europe
and the American west were stark reminders that the climate crisis has arrived.
But as the world warms, there is also a quieter, lesser-known crisis unfolding
(More...)
Storms and fires will not bring an escape from America’s stuck climate politics
Fri, 10 Sep 2021 06:09:41 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/09/04/storms-and-fires-will-not-bring-an-escape-from-americas-stuck-climate-politics>
"READING HIS local newspaper last month, Bruce, a 70-year-old retired
executive, could take it no longer. “Almost every article” on Nola.com—website
of the Times-Picayune, New Orleans’s paper of record since 1837—had “an element
(More...)
Who Can Get Your Book?
Sat, 11 Sep 2021 05:42:32 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.whocangetyourbook.com/
"Books hold the vast wealth of human knowledge. While public libraries work to
make that knowledge accessible to everyone regardless of disability, literacy,
or income level, gaps in access are widening. Many books in the most accessible
(More...)
This shy little wallaby has a white moustache and shares its name with a pub meal. Yet it’s been overlooked for decades
Sat, 11 Sep 2021 05:43:46 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/this-shy-little-wallaby-has-a-white-moustache-and-shares-its-name-with-a-pub-meal-yet-its-been-overlooked-for-decades-164326>
"For many people, the term “wallaby” may describe a single species, or rather
just a small kangaroo. So you may be surprised to learn there are actually more
than 50 known species of wallaby in Australia.
(More...)
Developer returns to game after four decades, discovers and fixes typo so it works
Sat, 11 Sep 2021 05:46:04 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.pcgamer.com/developer-returns-to-game-after-four-decades-discovers-and-fixes-typo-so-it-works/>
"Harry McCracken is not the name of a Cold War superspy, but a man who is now
the tech editor of
Fast Company and, in his younger days, a developer of
games for Radio Shack's TRS-80 microcomputer. McCracken recently went back to
(More...)
The Neo-Classical Interactive Fiction of 1995
Sat, 11 Sep 2021 05:47:08 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.filfre.net/2021/09/the-neo-classical-interactive-fiction-of-1995/>
"The games below evince no concern whatsoever about keeping their playing time
down to a couple of hours. On the contrary: all of the games that follow are
big enough that Infocom could conceivably have released them, while at least
(More...)
The best underwater photography awarded in the Through Your Lens contest
Sun, 12 Sep 2021 06:14:17 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://newatlas.com/photography/best-underwater-photography-awards-2021-through-your-lens-gallery/>
"In its 17th year the Through Your Lens underwater photography contest
continues to deliver an extraordinary assortment of undersea images. This
year's highlights include a stunning shot of a shrimp helping clean the teeth
(More...)
The Great Australian Dream? New homes in planned estates may not be built to withstand heatwaves
Sun, 12 Sep 2021 06:15:12 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/the-great-australian-dream-new-homes-in-planned-estates-may-not-be-built-to-withstand-heatwaves-166266>
"The design and construction of new homes in Australia may leave residents
vulnerable to heatwaves and local councils can do little to fix the situation,
our new research has found.
(More...)
Boomers vs millennials? Free yourself from the phoney generation wars
Sun, 12 Sep 2021 06:17:22 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/boomers-vs-millennials-free-yourself-from-the-phoney-generation-wars-167138>
"Generational thinking is a big idea that’s been horribly corrupted and
devalued by endless myths and stereotypes. These clichés have fuelled fake
battles between “snowflake” millennials and “selfish” baby boomers, with
(More...)
The super-rich, ‘sissy boys’, celebs – all targets in Xi’s bid to end cultural difference
Sun, 12 Sep 2021 06:19:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/05/super-rich-sissy-boys-celebs-all-targets-in-xis-bid-to-end-cultural-difference>
"Since the 100th anniversary of the Chinese Communist party (CCP) on 1 July,
political edicts have been flowing out of Beijing. President Xi Jinping
declared that China’s economy would now work to provide “common prosperity”.
(More...)
Climate change means Australia may have to abandon much of its farming
Sun, 12 Sep 2021 06:20:37 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/climate-change-means-australia-may-have-to-abandon-much-of-its-farming-166098>
"The findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change suggest
Australia may have to jettison tracts of the bush unless there is a massive
investment in climate-change adaptation and planning.
(More...)
How to Prevent Crime Without Relying on Police
Mon, 13 Sep 2021 05:38:47 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.yesmagazine.org/opinion/2021/08/20/crime-prevention-america-without-police>
"Crime, like most issues in our industrial and post-industrial capitalist
economic system, is a diamond with many facets. Police address crime mostly
from the back end—after the crime has occurred. We have a large, highly
(More...)
Leaded petrol is gone – but lead pollution may linger for a very long time
Mon, 13 Sep 2021 05:39:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/leaded-petrol-is-gone-but-lead-pollution-may-linger-for-a-very-long-time-167214>
"As a scientist studying lead poisoning in children once remarked: “it took two
years to put lead into gasoline and 60 years to take it out”. The consensus
around leaded fuel’s unacceptable threat to human health was hard won,
(More...)
Young Australian women in financial hardship are twice to three times as likely to experience violence
Mon, 13 Sep 2021 05:41:10 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/young-australian-women-in-financial-hardship-are-twice-to-three-times-as-likely-to-experience-violence-167343>
"New research undertaken for this week’s National Summit on Women’s Safety
finds violence and unwanted sexual activity are far more common among young
women experiencing financial hardship than women who are not.
(More...)
National summits have their place — but what will it really take to achieve equality for Australian women?
Mon, 13 Sep 2021 05:42:57 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
Climate change solution could come from 'electrifying everything', Australian inventor Saul Griffith says
Tue, 14 Sep 2021 05:36:01 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-09-07/climate-change-solution-electrify-everything-saul-griffiths/100428158>
"Speaking from San Francisco, Sydney-born inventor Saul Griffith explains how
Australia can rapidly get most of the way to net zero emissions using existing
technology.
(More...)
Photos from the field: why losing these tiny, loyal fish to climate change spells disaster for coral
Tue, 14 Sep 2021 05:38:15 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/photos-from-the-field-why-losing-these-tiny-loyal-fish-to-climate-change-spells-disaster-for-coral-167119>
"If you’ve ever dived on a coral reef, you may have peeked into a staghorn
coral and seen small fish whizzing through its branches. But few realise that
these small fish, such as tiny goby fish, play a crucial role in helping corals
(More...)
Politics, flashmobs, Yolngu dancers: the Australian story of Mikis Theodorakis’ legendary song Zorba
Tue, 14 Sep 2021 05:39:55 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/politics-flashmobs-yolngu-dancers-the-australian-story-of-mikis-theodorakis-legendary-song-zorba-167282>
"For those with only a cursory familiarity with Greece and Greek music, the
name of Mikis Theodorakis, who died last week aged 96, may conjure flashbacks
to the 1964 film
Zorba the Greek. That moment on a Cretan beach when Alexis
(More...)
From October, it will be all but impossible for most Australians to vape — largely because of Canberra’s little-known ‘homework police’
Tue, 14 Sep 2021 05:40:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/from-october-it-will-be-all-but-impossible-for-most-australians-to-vape-largely-because-of-canberras-little-known-homework-police-167376>
"After a misstep, it’s about to become illegal to import e-cigarettes without a
prescription, which means that, for most Australians, it’ll become all but
impossible to vape from October 1.
(More...)
Grandparents Watching the Kids? Your Job Could Be Paying Them
Wed, 15 Sep 2021 07:14:26 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/helpr-app-employer-pays-babysitters-friends-family/
"In rural northwest Arkansas, one of the country’s child care deserts,
it likely would have taken Morgan Edington many months before she found
a reliable sitter to care for her one-year-old son on the unlucky nights
(More...)
Buying property with a friend to solve home ownership struggles
Wed, 15 Sep 2021 07:18:13 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
‘Fortress USA’: How 9/11 produced a military industrial juggernaut
Wed, 15 Sep 2021 07:20:23 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://theconversation.com/fortress-usa-how-9-11-produced-a-military-industrial-juggernaut-166102
"Since the September 11 terror attacks, there has been no hiding from
the increased militarisation of the United States. Everyday life is
suffused with policing and surveillance. This ranges from the
(More...)
Convening on automation, Opportunity and belonging: Vision & Foundations for a better society.
Wed, 15 Sep 2021 07:23:36 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://socialcontract.fundforhumanity.org/vision-and-foundation-for-a-better-society/
"This report presents a positive vision for our society a generation
from now. At a moment of pandemic, economic disruption, reckoning with
structural racism, and deep political polarization, it offers a clear
(More...)
Militaries plunder science fiction for technology ideas, but turn a blind eye to the genre’s social commentary
Thu, 16 Sep 2021 05:47:27 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/militaries-plunder-science-fiction-for-technology-ideas-but-turn-a-blind-eye-to-the-genres-social-commentary-164978>
"Military planning is a complicated endeavour, calling upon experts in
logistics and infrastructure to predict resource availability and technological
advancements. Long-range military planning, deciding what to invest in now to
(More...)
One Way to Tackle Extreme Poverty: Replace Dirt Floors
Thu, 16 Sep 2021 06:00:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-08-23/one-way-to-tackle-extreme-poverty-flaxseed-oil-floors>
"When Gayatri Datar and some of her classmates from Stanford University
traveled to Rwanda for a course on entrepreneurial design for extreme
affordability, they encountered a country where around 75% of the population
(More...)
America’s Star Teenage Scientist Is Catalyzing Generational Change
Thu, 16 Sep 2021 06:01:17 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/gitanjali-rao-interview-scientist-inventions-lead-water/>
"Motivated by the water contamination crisis in Flint, Michigan, Gitanjali Rao
was only ten years old when she created her first invention, a now patented
lead test for water. For this, Rao, now 15, was named America’s Top Young
(More...)
Open-source software starts with developers, but there are other important contributors, too. Who exactly? Good question
Thu, 16 Sep 2021 06:02:55 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/08/open_source_beyond_the_programmers/>
"Is Linus Torvalds important to open-source software? Of course. Guido van
Rossum, who created the popular programming language Python? Sure! Michael
"Monty" Widenius of MySQL fame? Certainly. OK, what about Robert Love? Eben
(More...)
RIP Kannon Phelps 2001-2021
Thu, 16 Sep 2021 20:13:18 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
The disastrous voyage of Satoshi, the world’s first cryptocurrency cruise ship
Fri, 17 Sep 2021 05:03:15 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/news/2021/sep/07/disastrous-voyage-satoshi-cryptocurrency-cruise-ship-seassteading>
"Last year, three cryptocurrency enthusiasts bought a cruise ship. They named
it the Satoshi, and dreamed of starting a floating libertarian utopia. It
didn’t work out"
(More...)
We Wasted 20 Years Fighting the War on Terror Instead of Climate Change
Fri, 17 Sep 2021 05:04:53 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.commondreams.org/views/2021/09/08/we-wasted-20-years-fighting-war-terror-instead-climate-change>
"The push for militarization has been used to shut down exactly the left-wing
political ideas that are vitally needed to curb the climate crisis. As I argued
in February 2020, U.S. wars have repeatedly been used to justify a crackdown on
(More...)
Facebook Users Liable for All Comments Under Their Posts, According to Australia High Court
Fri, 17 Sep 2021 05:07:47 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://gizmodo.com/facebook-users-liable-for-all-comments-under-their-post-1847633797>
"Australia’s High Court, roughly the equivalent of the U.S. Supreme Court, has
ruled that Facebook users are responsible for the content of complete strangers
who post defamatory comments on their posts. The ruling upholds a June 2019
(More...)
Escaping Together
Fri, 17 Sep 2021 05:09:02 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://scottsantens.substack.com/p/escaping-together
"At some point in all of our lives, we all try to escape from something. There
are few things more universal to the human experience than the act of escape,
of running from some predator or some danger. To even be where I am today as a
(More...)
How much of the world’s oil needs to stay in the ground?
Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:07:33 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/08/climate-crisis-fossil-fuels-ground>
"The vast majority of fossil fuel reserves owned today by countries and
companies must remain in the ground if the climate crisis is to be ended, an
analysis has found.
(More...)
John Lennon’s Imagine at 50: a deceptively simple ballad, a lasting emblem of hope
Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:08:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/john-lennons-imagine-at-50-a-deceptively-simple-ballad-a-lasting-emblem-of-hope-167444>
"1971 was a tumultuous year. The counter-cultural movement of the 60s was still
being felt. Demonstrations were held opposing the Vietnam War and in August,
Australia and New Zealand withdrew their troops.
(More...)
Yes, it is entirely possible for Australia to phase out thermal coal within a decade
Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:10:23 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/yes-it-is-entirely-possible-for-australia-to-phase-out-thermal-coal-within-a-decade-167366>
"Australia has received seemingly contradictory messages about coal this week.
In a UK study published today in
Nature, scientists found Australia must keep
(More...)
Before 9/11, Australia had no counter-terrorism laws, now we have 92 — but are we safer?
Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:11:04 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/before-9-11-australia-had-no-counter-terrorism-laws-now-we-have-92-but-are-we-safer-166273>
"Australia is a long way from New York and Washington DC, but the September 11
terror attacks had a profound impact on our country.
(More...)
Big oil’s ‘wokewashing’ is the new climate science denialism
Sat, 18 Sep 2021 06:12:20 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/sep/09/big-oil-delay-tactics-new-climate-science-denial>
"ExxonMobil has been touting its commitment to “reducing carbon emissions with
innovative energy solutions”. Chevron would like to remind you it is keeping
the lights on during this dark time. BP is going #NetZero, but is also very
(More...)
Cut less, leave longer: decades of data show we are over-exploiting tropical rainforests
Sun, 19 Sep 2021 06:19:55 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/cut-less-leave-longer-decades-of-data-show-we-are-over-exploiting-tropical-rainforests-167426>
"Tropical rainforests currently cover 1070 million hectares of the world’s
surface. More than 90% of them are located in three regions: Central Africa, in
the Congo Basin; South America, mostly in the Amazon; and in Southeast Asia, in
(More...)
Australia’s ‘A’ rating on human rights is under threat with a handpicked, politically engineered commissioner
Sun, 19 Sep 2021 06:21:01 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/australias-a-rating-on-human-rights-is-under-threat-with-a-handpicked-politically-engineered-commissioner-167626>
"The Morrison government’s handpicked appointment of a new human rights
commissioner, Lorraine Finlay, threatens to undermine the independence and
legitimacy of the Australian Human Rights Commission itself.
(More...)
Ig Nobel prizes awarded to research on beards, upside-down airborne rhinos and obese politicians
Sun, 19 Sep 2021 06:22:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-09-10/ig-nobel-prize-winners-announced-2021/100448016>
"If lockdown wasn't incentive enough to grow some facial hair, the hypothesis
that humans evolved beards to protect themselves from punches to the face has
been tested, and its findings awarded an Ig Nobel Peace Prize.
(More...)
El Salvador Bitcoin: how Chivo doesn’t work; how to fake a Chivo signup
Sun, 19 Sep 2021 06:23:28 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://davidgerard.co.uk/blockchain/2021/09/10/el-salvador-bitcoin-how-chivo-doesnt-work-how-to-fake-a-chivo-signup/>
"Since Tuesday, Bitcoin in El Salvador has stumbled along in the form of the
Chivo Wallet. The “$30” bonus is motivating people to sign up with Chivo! Then
they find out all the ways it doesn’t work.
(More...)
Madam Misfit - The Wombling Song (Electro Swing)
Sun, 19 Sep 2021 06:24:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dkBDdeDXkk
I’m rather fond of the original, and this gave me a good chuckle. The message
of
The Wombles is ever more relevant today!
(More...)
The 2021 Ig Nobel Prize Winners
Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:54:00 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.improbable.com/2021-ceremony/winners/#ig2021
"The 2021 Ig Nobel Prizes were awarded at the 31st First Annual Ig Nobel Prize
ceremony, on Thursday, September 9, 2021."
(More...)
Forget plans to lower emissions by 2050 – this is deadly procrastination
Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:56:08 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/sep/10/net-zero-2050-deadly-procrastination-fossil-fuels>
"The world has by and large adopted “net zero by 2050” as its de facto climate
goal, but two fatal flaws hide in plain sight within those 16 characters. One
is “net zero.” The other is “by 2050”.
(More...)
What a Society Designed for Well-Being Looks Like
Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:57:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.yesmagazine.org/issue/mental-health/2018/09/12/what-a-society-design-for-well-being-looks-like>
"To address the dramatic increase in mental and emotional distress in the U.S.,
we must move beyond a focus on the individual and think of well-being as a
social issue. Both the World Health Organization and the United Nations have
(More...)
Former Teacher Shares Genius Game That Teaches Kids Politics And Economics
Mon, 20 Sep 2021 05:58:41 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.boredpanda.com/teaching-kids-game-politics-country-governance-equality-twitter/>
"While teaching kids can be challenging at times, it’s certainly rewarding. And
the challenge is a healthy one if you’re willing, let alone know how to
approach the topic at hand.
(More...)
Teaching a ‘hatred’ of Australia? No, minister, here’s why a democracy has critical curriculum content
Mon, 20 Sep 2021 06:00:18 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/teaching-a-hatred-of-australia-no-minister-heres-why-a-democracy-has-critical-curriculum-content-167697>
"Australian Education Minister Alan Tudge says he does not want students to
leave school with “a hatred” of their country because the history curriculum
for years 7 to 10 “paints an overly negative view of Australia”. The minister
(More...)
Norway’s left-wing opposition wins election in a landslide
Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:07:54 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/14/norways-leftwing-opposition-wins-election-in-a-landslide>
"Norway’s left-wing opposition headed by Labour Party leader Jonas Gahr Store
has had a landslide win in a general election after a campaign dominated by the
future of the country’s oil industry.
(More...)
Australia has finally backed a plan to let developing countries make cheap COVID-19 vaccines — what matters is what it does next
Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:08:50 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/australia-has-finally-backed-a-plan-to-let-developing-countries-make-cheap-covid-19-vaccines-what-matters-is-what-it-does-next-167630>
"Australia held out longer than the US, even though US companies had more at
stake. But unless Australia and other wealthy nations do more to merely vote
for the waiver, “grotesque” vaccination gaps are set to continue for years to
(More...)
We managed to toilet train cows (and they learned faster than a toddler). It could help combat climate change
Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:10:19 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
WATCH: Our mobile phones are covered in bacteria and viruses… and we never wash them
Tue, 21 Sep 2021 05:11:02 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/watch-our-mobile-phones-are-covered-in-bacteria-and-viruses-and-we-never-wash-them-167784>
"COVID-19 has seen the world embrace sanitisers and formal hand washing
procedures in our private lives like never before. But even as we’ve thought
more and more about surfaces and the hands that touch them as vectors for
(More...)
There’s Amazon Prime, and Then There’s Shipping by Schooner
Wed, 22 Sep 2021 06:20:47 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/style/carbon-neutral-shipping-hudson-valley-new-york.html>
"The clouds swirled, the wind roared and the waves beat at the hull of the
schooner Apollonia, but the ship stayed its course down the Hudson River in New
York. Captained by Sam Merrett, it was carrying ayurvedic condiments from
(More...)
British diplomat uses social media to draw attention to removal of Chinese mosque minarets
Wed, 22 Sep 2021 06:22:55 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-09-15/uk-diplomat-criticised-removal-of-chinese-mosque-minarets/100461330>
"A senior UK diplomat has taken to social media to comment on the removal of
minarets at several mosques in western China, drawing attention to the ongoing
crackdown against Muslims in the country.
(More...)
We analysed data from 29,798 clean-ups around the world to uncover some of the worst litter hotspots
Wed, 22 Sep 2021 06:23:45 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/we-analysed-data-from-29-798-clean-ups-around-the-world-to-uncover-some-of-the-worst-litter-hotspots-167280>
"Coastal litter is a big environmental problem. But how does this litter differ
around the world, and why? In the first global analysis of its kind, we set out
to answer those questions using data collected by thousands of citizen
(More...)
Beijing court dismisses landmark #MeToo case as authorities censor discussion
Wed, 22 Sep 2021 06:25:23 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/beijing-court-dismisses-landmark-23metoo-case-as-authorities-censor-discussion/ar-AAOsiRR>
"A Beijing court on Tuesday dismissed a case filed by Zhou Xiaoxuan, whose
sexual assault allegations against a prominent television host helped
kick-start China’s burgeoning #MeToo movement, while censors moved quickly to
(More...)
Baby eastern quolls born in captivity give hope for extinction reversal | ABC Australia
Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:38:20 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAwPLjb5i7o
"An Eastern quoll breeding program in Dunkeld is celebrating a litter of 6 new
pups, who are black with white spots. Conservation Manager Hayley Glover
explains the status of Eastern quoll and the fascinating natural selection each
(More...)
Wikipedia bans seven Chinese users amid concerns of 'infiltration, physical harm'
Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:39:24 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.theregister.com/2021/09/15/wikimedia_china_bans/
"The Wikimedia Foundation has revealed efforts to gather personal information
on some Chinese Wikipedia editors by entities opposed to their activities on
the platform and likely to threaten the targets' privacy or well-being.
(More...)
‘Dramatically more powerful’: world’s first battery-electric freight train unveiled
Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:40:40 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/sep/16/battery-electric-freight-train-wabtec-rail-transport-emissions>
"The world’s first battery-electric freight train was unveiled at an event in
Pittsburgh on Friday, amid a fresh attempt by some US lawmakers to slash carbon
emissions from rail transport in order to address the climate crisis.
(More...)
Tasmania’s salmon industry detonates underwater bombs to scare away seals – but at what cost?
Thu, 23 Sep 2021 05:41:34 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/tasmanias-salmon-industry-detonates-underwater-bombs-to-scare-away-seals-but-at-what-cost-167854>
"Australians consume a lot of salmon – much of it farmed in Tasmania. But as
Richard Flanagan’s new book
Toxic shows, concern about the industry’s
environmental damage is growing.
(More...)
James Webb Space Telescope: An astronomer on the team explains how to send a giant telescope to space – and why
Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:06:16 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/james-webb-space-telescope-an-astronomer-on-the-team-explains-how-to-send-a-giant-telescope-to-space-and-why-167516>
"The James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled to head to space on Dec. 18, 2021.
With it, astronomers hope to find the first galaxies to form in the universe,
will search for Earthlike atmospheres around other planets and accomplish many
(More...)
One-third of the world’s tree species are threatened with extinction – here are five of them
Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:07:14 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/one-third-of-the-worlds-tree-species-are-threatened-with-extinction-here-are-five-of-them-167749>
"One in three of the world’s tree species are at risk of becoming extinct,
according to a recent report by the Global Tree Assessment – the first attempt
to estimate the conservation status of all of Earth’s trees.
(More...)
Climate anxiety fails to translate into votes as German election looms
Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:08:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.ft.com/content/0e30af86-382a-482e-8f02-57efb6b302f7
"Helmut Besser’s charming brick house stands on the edge of a crater where
eight homes and a wheat field once stood. Two months ago, images of the
sinkhole became a symbol of the floods that drove the devastating force of
(More...)
Waste from one bitcoin transaction ‘like binning two iPhones’
Fri, 24 Sep 2021 06:10:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/sep/17/waste-from-one-bitcoin-transaction-like-binning-two-iphones>
"A single bitcoin transaction generates the same amount of electronic waste as
throwing two iPhones in the bin, according to a new analysis by economists from
the Dutch central bank and MIT.
(More...)
East Bay tiny homes mean big changes for homeless residents
Sat, 25 Sep 2021 06:21:51 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.mercurynews.com/2021/09/16/east-bay-tiny-homes-mean-big-changes-for-homeless-residents/>
"SAN LEANDRO — After months of sleeping in her Jeep, unable to shower
regularly, Donna Ohnstad was ready to give up.
(More...)
Bangkok's idle taxis turned into vegetable patches
Sat, 25 Sep 2021 06:22:42 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/bangkoks-idle-taxis-turned-into-vegetable-patches/ar-AAOyxKM>
"Thailand's tough Covid-19 restrictions have left the city's hectic streets
quiet, putting taxi drivers out of work.
(More...)
MERCEDES-BENZ “FUTURE 2021”
Sat, 25 Sep 2021 06:23:56 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://vimeo.com/603867023
"Mercedes - Benz iconic G-Class turns Electric, told through the lens of a 70
sci fi trailer."
(More...)
‘You can’t close’: Melbourne’s last video store determined to stay open in streaming era
Sat, 25 Sep 2021 06:25:34 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/19/you-cant-close-melbournes-last-video-store-determined-to-stay-open-in-streaming-era>
"Swan Street has been subject to dramatic gentrification since De Vreught saw a
sign in the window of a video store in 2000, reading “all VHS $5”.
(More...)
The world is hungry for solar panels. Why did we stop making them?
Sat, 25 Sep 2021 06:26:36 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.abc.net.au/news/science/2021-09-19/solar-panels-why-australia-stopped-making-them-china/100466342>
"Every day of the year, Australia installs about 1,000 rooftop solar systems;
those black rectangles appearing on rooftops everywhere represent billions of
dollars spent on silicon, glass and a little bit of metal.
(More...)
Five things we learned about the state of the planet at the world’s biggest meeting of biodiversity experts
Sun, 26 Sep 2021 05:36:22 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/five-things-we-learned-about-the-state-of-the-planet-at-the-worlds-biggest-meeting-of-biodiversity-experts-167751>
"Every four years, some of the biggest issues facing the planet are thrashed
out in a global meeting of conservation scientists. The International Union for
the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the global authority on the status of the
(More...)
Hong Kong few select powerful new ‘patriots only’ committee
Sun, 26 Sep 2021 05:37:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/19/hong-kong-few-select-powerful-new-patriots-only-committee>
"A select group of a few thousand people have begun voting for a powerful
committee that will choose Hong Kong’s next leader and nearly half its
legislature after electoral changes imposed by Beijing to ensure only
(More...)
Welcome to Walled Culture
Sun, 26 Sep 2021 05:38:57 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://walledculture.org/welcome-to-walled-culture/
"The modern world is digital. We meet people online, we buy things online, we
deal with the government online. But the digital sphere is not just the latest
version of the traditional, analogue world. It is fundamentally different. Once
(More...)
This French Pianist Has Been Playing For 102 Years And Just Released A New Album
Sun, 26 Sep 2021 05:41:36 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/20/1036622670/107-year-old-french-pianist-colette-maze-new-album>
"PARIS — Colette Maze welcomes me warmly into her apartment on the 14th floor
of a building overlooking the Seine River. From her flowered balcony, she has a
view of the Eiffel Tower. She offers me a whiskey or a cognac — along with a
(More...)
In 1825, Haiti Paid France $21 Billion To Preserve Its Independence -- Time For France To Pay It Back
Mon, 27 Sep 2021 05:50:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2017/12/06/in-1825-haiti-gained-independence-from-france-for-21-billion-its-time-for-france-to-pay-it-back/?sh=2826dc29312b>
"The devastation wreaked on Haiti by Hurricane Matthew last fall was just the
latest in a seemingly endless string of misfortunes that have befallen that
country, which in March concluded a year-long interlude of caretaker governance
(More...)
Parken Überall — The Very German Culture War No One Likes To Talk About
Mon, 27 Sep 2021 05:52:11 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://medium.com/@bernie_duffy/parken-%C3%BCberall-the-very-german-culture-war-no-one-likes-to-talk-about-9f34d6bed8e2>
"Germany is one of the most densely populated states in Europe, and in the
central areas of the larger cities, particularly, there is a dearth of places
to park cars. Most old apartment buildings do not contain underground parking,
(More...)
The Unimaginable
Mon, 27 Sep 2021 05:53:19 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://doctorow.medium.com/the-unimaginable-56bd1bb51485
"Margaret Thatcher was the least science-fictional world leader in modern
history.
(More...)
Climate change is testing the resilience of native plants to fire, from ash forests to gymea lilies
Mon, 27 Sep 2021 05:54:05 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/climate-change-is-testing-the-resilience-of-native-plants-to-fire-from-ash-forests-to-gymea-lilies-167367>
"Green shoots emerging from black tree trunks is an iconic image in the days
following bushfires, thanks to the remarkable ability of many native plants to
survive even the most intense flames.
(More...)
The Last Glimpses of California's Vanishing Hippie Utopias
Tue, 28 Sep 2021 06:11:38 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://www.gq.com/story/californias-vanishing-hippie-utopias
"Half a century ago, a legion of idealists dropped out of society and went back
to the land, creating a patchwork of utopian communes across Northern
California. Here, the last of those rogue souls offer a glimpse of their
(More...)
L.A.’s New Reflective Streets Bounce Heat Back into Space
Tue, 28 Sep 2021 06:12:33 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://reasonstobecheerful.world/reflective-white-streets-urban-heat-island-effect/>
"When the scientists aboard the International Space Station direct their
thermal camera at Los Angeles, standing out from the sweltering red and orange
blob is a crescent of cool, blueish white deep in the San Fernando Valley.
(More...)
"It's almost like grooming": how anti-vaxxers, conspiracy theorists, and the far-right came together over COVID
Tue, 28 Sep 2021 06:13:50 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/its-almost-like-grooming-how-anti-vaxxers-conspiracy-theorists-and-the-far-right-came-together-over-covid-168383>
"Far right nationalists, anti-vaxxers, libertarians and conspiracy theorists
have come together over COVID, and capitalised on the anger and uncertainty
simmering in some sections of the community.
(More...)
How COVID has shone a light on the ugly face of Australian antisemitism
Tue, 28 Sep 2021 06:14:36 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/how-covid-has-shone-a-light-on-the-ugly-face-of-australian-antisemitism-154743>
"The increased prominence of antisemitic incidents during the COVID pandemic
may leave you wondering: has antisemitism always been part of the Australian
social fabric, or are we facing a new, sinister trend?
(More...)
Insane Victorian Names
Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:10:43 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://bizarrevictoria.wordpress.com/2015/05/20/insane-victorian-names/>
"I found this story on Buzzfeed here. I will include photographs of the birth
registries, so you can see that none of this is made up. All photographs
courtesy of Fraser and Fraser."
(More...)
“Jet zero:” Rolls-Royce completes maiden flight of all-electric plane
Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:11:56 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://thedriven.io/2021/09/22/jet-zero-rolls-royce-completes-maiden-flight-of-all-electric-plane/>
"British luxury automaker and engineering company Rolls-Royce says it has
completed the maiden flight of its all-electric ‘Spirit of Innovation’
aircraft, boasting a powerful 400kW electric powertrain with what the company
(More...)
Earthquakes don’t kill people; buildings do. And those lovely decorative bits are the first to fall
Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:13:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
(More...)
From poo politics to rubbish disposal: 5 big questions about the International Space Station becoming a movie set
Wed, 29 Sep 2021 05:15:29 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://theconversation.com/from-poo-politics-to-rubbish-disposal-5-big-questions-about-the-international-space-station-becoming-a-movie-set-168282>
"On October 5, an unusual crew will fly to the International Space Station.
Director Klim Shipenko and actor Yulia Peresild will spend a week and a half on
the station shooting scenes for the Russian movie
Challenge. Peresild plays a
(More...)
A ‘rewilding revolution’: How 9 million trees reforested England
Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:29:55 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.euronews.com/green/2021/08/21/a-rewilding-revolution-how-9-million-trees-reforested-england>
"It's been 30 years since the first tree was planted in a rewilding revolution
in the heart of England, aiming to reclaim an industrial landscape scarred by
centuries of mining.
(More...)
Galapagos Pink Land Iguanas on Verge of Extinction, Experts Say
Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:31:35 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
http://www.sci-news.com/biology/galapagos-pink-land-iguanas-10029.html
"A critically endangered species of lizard called
Conolophus marthae is in
dire need of conservation action, according to researchers from Galápagos
Conservancy and the Galápagos National Park Directorate."
(More...)
Hong Kong Government Arrests Four Members Of Pro-Democracy Hong Kong Alliance, Shuts Down Its Online Presence
Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:32:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210917/17080747583/hong-kong-government-arrests-four-members-pro-democracy-hong-kong-alliance-shuts-down-online-presence.shtml>
"The Chinese government's national security law — adopted/acquiesced to by
Hong Kong politicians apparently handpicked to serve the country that agreed
not to interfere in Hong Kong's government business until 2047 — is still
(More...)
I guess cowboys just hate Indians
Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:33:25 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2021/09/24/i-guess-cowboys-just-hate-indians/>
"There is this law called the Indian Child Welfare Act which, along with
providing necessary protections, also helped kill the practice of tearing apart
Indian families and putting their kids in boarding schools. Sounds like an
(More...)
Barcelona issues annual public transport tickets to former car owners
Fri, 1 Oct 2021 05:33:16 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.eltis.org/in-brief/news/barcelona-issues-annual-public-transport-tickets-former-car-owners>
"Creating- and maintaining- the shift from urban automobile travel to public
transport is a complex task. As emissions reduction targets loom ahead, cities
and regions across the world are finding new and innovative ways to achieve
(More...)
Photographing the Microscopic: Winners of Nikon Small World 2021
Fri, 1 Oct 2021 05:34:17 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2021/09/photographing-microscopic-winners-nikon-small-world-2021/620058/>
"Nikon has announced the winners of the 2021 Small World Photomicrography
Competition and has once again shared some of the winning and honored images
with us. The contest invites photographers and scientists to submit images of
(More...)
A Parable of (All-American) Violence
Fri, 1 Oct 2021 05:36:22 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
https://tomdispatch.com/a-parable-of-all-american-violence/
"Many analysts have pointed to the culture of lies and self-deceit that
characterized these years. American leaders, political and military, lost their
own moral grounding and were dishonest with the citizenry they theoretically
(More...)
Yet another move to funnel money to big copyright companies, not struggling creators
Fri, 1 Oct 2021 05:37:56 +1000
Andrew Pam <xanni [at] glasswings.com.au>
<
https://walledculture.org/yet-another-move-to-funnel-money-to-big-copyright-companies-not-struggling-creators/>
"When modern copyright came into existence in 1710, it gave a monopoly to
authors for just 14 years, with the option to extend it for another 14. Today,
in most parts of the world, copyright term is the life of the creator, plus 70
(More...)
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